"Who can Merci trust when all the relationships wobble? Succeeding as a sixth-grader is challenging for any preteen but especially hard for Merci Suarez. Her tight-knit Hispanic family is being torn by a secret no one will share. Her upscale, private school is rife with adolescent angst, flimsy friendships and “girl drama”. How can she excel in school when she does not fill academic expectatio ...

Now featuring an eye-catching new paperback cover, this bestseller is full of facts about horse behavior, biology, and care, all in the form of hand-lettered notes. Pencil & watercolor illustrations.

In this splendid and playful volume, an acclaimed creative team presents examples of 29 poetic forms, demonstrating not only the (sometimes bendable) rules of poetry, but also the spirit that brings them to life. Full color.

"These aren't poems to read aloud, but to look at and laugh at together, with young children and especially older readers, who will enjoy the surprise of what words look like and what can be done with them." -- Booklist (starred review) Concrete poems startle and delight the eye and mind. The size and arrangement of words and letters can add or alter meaning -- forming a poem that takes the shape ...

Bear—large, looming, unfriendly, and self-sufficient, contrasts dramatically with mouse—tiny, unpresuming but determined, funny, and selfless. When Bear's hard shell begins to crack, we find great pleasure in witnessing friendship's rewarding blossom.

Bear—large, looming, unfriendly, and self-sufficient, contrasts dramatically with mouse—tiny, unpresuming but determined, funny, and selfless. When Bear's hard shell begins to crack, we find great pleasure in witnessing friendship's rewarding blossom.

Chattana is a fantasy city entirely sustained by the Governor who brought peace long ago. But the price was crippling loss of personal freedoms. Three unlikely preteens begin to question his “law and order” message. Pong is an observant boy who escapes from Namwon prison where he was born and hides in a Buddhist monastery where he learns patience and compassion. Perfectionist Nok is the warden ...

Chattana is a fantasy city entirely sustained by the Governor who brought peace long ago. But the price was crippling loss of personal freedoms. Three unlikely preteens begin to question his “law and order” message. Pong is an observant boy who escapes from Namwon prison where he was born and hides in a Buddhist monastery where he learns patience and compassion. Perfectionist Nok is the warden ...

This poignant picture book tells the tale of a farmer and his sons who discover something remarkable about their hedge and each person who trims it. Full color.

Night has fallen, and Bat awakens to find her evening meal. Follow her as she swoops into the shadows, shouting and flying, the echoes of her voice creating a sound picture of the world around her. When morning light creeps into the sky, Bat returns to the roost to feed her baby . . . and to rest until nighttime comes again. Bat loves the night!

The classic heartwarming tale from Kate DiCamillo--now with an afterword from the beloved author, reflecting on twenty years in print One summer's day, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries--and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It's because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it's because of Winn-Dixie that she ...

With conversational text and pen-and-ink illustrations, Davies and Maland examine the largest mammal on Earth, detailing the physical characteristics, habits, and habitats of the blue whale.

Quirky, jubilant, and effervescent, Bink and Gollie brim with individualism that thrives on friendship, even though their strong personalities occasionally tangle, albeit temporarily. Sparse text leaves plenty of room for imagination to play, while rich vocabulary introduced in lively context helps young readers instantly grasp and recall new information. Clever, hilarious illustrations ensure a s ...

What can fear keep us from discovering? Friendship? Adventure? S'mores? Ernestine learns that overcoming fears can definitely open up new worlds of fun. A beautiful book that will have young readers and listeners cheering for Ernestine and wanting to conquer their own apprehensions.

The ability to change color, a sharp-shooting tongue, and skin covering your eyes -- now that is cool. Read and Wonder books tell stories, take children on adventures, and reveal how big and WONDER-full the natural world really is. Back matter includes an index.

These small poems, some familiar, some new, have been carefully selected by acclaimed author-illustrator Simon James, whose expressive watercolors portray an everyday world overflowing with wonder and possibility. Full color.

A wonderful immersion into the baby dolphin's world. -- Booklist Pop! Tail first, head last, Dolphin is born into the blue. Readers are invited to join the baby calf as he follows his mother and discovers all there is to know about life under the sea, from catching his first fish to learning how to say his name with his very own whistle. Nicola Davies's lyrical narrative and intriguing facts are a ...

Welcome to a story about the world's most devoted dad--the Emperor Penguin. This dilly of a dad spends the entire winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything to eat, keeping the egg warm until it's ready to hatch. Full color.

This is a beautiful story of transformation of one character and the kindness and gentle persistence that it took by friends. Change begins in the heart, and sometimes when it is set in its unhappy way, it takes a while to rethink, hope, and be courageous enough to try something new and even full of hope. A wonderful story.

Beneath this comical adventure, quirky characters, and high-flying drama lies a beautiful unfolding of understanding. Kate DiCamillo has developed her characters so well that readers feel their pain when challenged to put aside their long-held beliefs about others. Wise Mrs. Meecham gently helps remove blinders and Flora's heart starts to hope while her squirrel, whose heart was open from the star ...